by Vince Anch
We are excited about the new school year starting and the increased interest that families are having about providing a Catholic education for their children.
We are challenged by the extra funding that is needed to support every request. The Catholic Education Foundation (CEF) has never turned away a child needing a scholarship and doesn’t want that trend to end.
A record number of scholarships and scholarship funding is needed to meet all the need. Over 1,800 children are in need of CEF scholarships in order to continue their Catholic education. In addition, over 280 children are currently on a waiting list in need of financial assistance scholarships in order to attend a Catholic school for the very first time. In total, CEF will need to provide over 2,000 scholarships totaling over $5.6 million. This is a $600,000 increase over last year’s scholarship needs.
There is a potential solution to this challenge. On Nov. 1, CEF will be honoring Msgr. Tom Tank at its annual Gaudeamus dinner. Msgr. Tank is nothing short of a saint. He has created many special programs for our archdiocese, including Camp Tekakwitha, Men Under Construction, Catholic Housing of Wyandotte County (now called Community Housing of Wyandotte County) and Villa St. Francis, just to name a few.
He also has served as vicar general, pastor of the Church of the Ascension, rector of St. Peter Cathedral and was the first pastor at Church of the Nativity. He was also a chaplain and teacher at Bishop Ward, which is a CEF school.
This year’s Gaudeamus has a special challenge sponsor. Any new donations to CEF’s Sponsor a Child program and any increase a donor makes over last year’s Gaudeamus donation will be matched. Donors do not have to attend Gaudeamus to have their gift matched, but they do need to give online at: cefgala.org; mail to CEF’s office; or call the CEF main line at (913) 647-0344. The match will go as high as $1 million!
Gaudeamus is one of the most unique and powerful dinners in the community. Over 1,200 guests attend every year to hear from a CEF student speaker and a CEF family whose lives and faith have been significantly changed due to receiving CEF scholarships.
The dinner also includes a celebration for the school that earns CEF’s Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann School of Excellence Award. Many CEF students also attend to thank guests. All the proceeds from Gaudeamus help CEF fund scholarships for many children who otherwise would not be able to attend a Catholic school.
